Agriculture Commission Agenda and Minutes September 24_2014Northampton Agricultural Commission
Minutes
7:00 PM Wednesday September 24, 2014
210 Main Street, Room 10 (2nd floor, City Hall)
Northampton, MA
Members present: Chair John Omasta, Vice Chair Rich Jaescke, John Bobala, Chip Parsons, and Stan Zawalick.
Staff present: Wayne Feiden.
John Omasta opened the meeting at 7:00 PM
Public comment: There was no public comment.
Approval of Agriculture Commission Minutes of April 9, 2014: Upon motion by Rich Jaescke and second by Chip Parson, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes.
Presentation by Grow Food Northampton on activities at Bean/Allard/GFN property: Adele Franks and Jen Smith presented and then discussed the current activities on the Grow Food Northampton
farm. Crimson and Clover plants over 40 different fruits and vegetables for sale at farmers markets, sharing with CSA share holders, and a large amount of crops donated to the Survival
Center. The Community garden houses a large organic community garden, hunger relief plots for the Elizabeth Ann Seaton Food Kitchen, subsidized plots for low income residents, over
500 children (goal 1,000 for 2015) get farming education. Mocking Bird farm grazes beef and Slow Tractor farm raises grain.
Plan agenda for fall joint meeting with Conservation Commission: The commission asked for a joint meeting to go over areas of mutual interest (right to farm, agriculture exemptions,
use of land near wetlands for farming, use of city owned agricultural land, and agricultural resources available). Ideally the meeting will be the same night as an Agriculture Commission
meeting but separate nights are fine if necessary for scheduling purposes.
Explore opportunities for “right to farm:The Commission received a $400 Massachusetts Association of Agriculture Commissions grant and endorsed a pending $3,400 CPA grant to fund right
to farm signs. They reviewed possible sign mockups and endorsed one approach, pending assessment of costs.
Explore brainstorm and social event with other nearby agriculture commissions (possibly buffet at Smith Vocation Agricultural School): The Commission asked if MAAC would be willing to
organize such an effort.
Update on discussion of possible future winter or year-round farmers market: The Commission briefly reviewed a report on year round farmers market done by Smith College students. They
agreed that the next step is up to the farmers markets managers to see if they want to proceed.
The Commission briefly discussed the city’s effort to expand the farmland at the Connecticut River Greenway and make the new land available for River Run residents if they want to run
it as a community garden
The Commission set October 22, 2014 as their next meeting, unless a joint meeting with the Conservation Commission requires a different date.
Upon motion by Rich Jaescke and second by Chip Parson, the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:10 PM.